Saturday, December 19, 2009

Dari Sports visited Columbia, Missouri to cover Mizzou Quarterback Blaine Gabbert in sensors. The sensors have reflective markers that send off a light signal to 12 cameras that surrounded Gabbert as he threw some passes. The cameras locate where the markers are in 3-D space. The information transmitted from the markers into the cameras is then conveyed on a computer screen to show a “Robot Blaine.”

All of the information gathered breaks down Gabbert’s velocity, acceleration, range of motion, balance, movement and more. It can also calculate kinetic variables such as force. All of the forces acting on Gabbert’s arms, hips, and legs when throwing can calculate what he uses to accelerate, balance, and move for every type of throw.

Gabbert’s results revealed that he is very symmetrical and consistent in his core rotation while throwing. He rotates his trunk quicker for longer throws. The Missouri Athletic Performance Team will use the results to make Blaine Gabbert an even stronger, more balanced quarterback for the Tigers, and Mizzou will continue using this program to ensure quickness and accuracy for its athletes at every position.

Wednesday, December 16, 2009

Monday, December 14, 2009

Friday, December 11, 2009

Brian Coulter is up for the 2009 Rudy Award. The Senior Defensive End from Baker, Louisiana has 39 tackles and two sacks this season.

The College Football Rudy Awards honor Division I college football players who best embody the principles of inspirational football legend Daniel 'Rudy' Ruettiger. Rather than measure the players stats, the Rudy Awards measures the size of a player's heart.

The finalist will be named The Most Inspirational College Football Player, and the 2009 Recipient of the College Football Rudy Awards. They will receive an academic college scholarship in his name to his university and The Rudy Award Trophy personally presented by Rudy Ruettiger at a ceremony to be held on January 11, 2010 in Orlando, Florida.

Thursday, December 3, 2009

Three University of Missouri football standouts were named first-team All-Big 12 by league coaches. Senior WR Danario Alexander, senior LB Sean Weatherspoon and sophomore PK Grant Ressel all earned first-team designation, while freshman DE standout Aldon Smith won the league’s defensive freshman of the year award.

Weatherspoon, a Butkus Award finalist who leads Mizzou and ranks 3rd in the Big 12 with 101 tackles on the season, was a first-team selection for the second consecutive season, while Alexander and Ressel are first timers on the team. Alexander is the nation’s top receiver, leading the NCAA with his MU-record 1,644 receiving yards (a 137.0 per-game average), on 107 receptions, including 13 touchdowns. Ressel leads the nation in field goal accuracy (among those with 11 or more makes), at 96.0%, as he’s connected on 24-of-25 kicks in his first year as a starter, including the game-winning 27-yard field goal against rival Kansas last Saturday at the final gun.

Smith is the nation’s top freshman in both tackles for loss (18.5) and quarterback sacks (11.0). Eleven sacks ties the MU single-season record. He becomes only the second Tiger to win the Big 12 Defensive Freshman of the Year award, joining former All-American Justin Smith, who took home the same honor in 1998 and is now a starting defensive end for the San Francisco 49ers.

Wednesday, December 2, 2009

This week's Special Teams Plays of the Week go to punter Jake Harry and Grant Ressel. Ressel was named Big 12 Special Teams Player of the Week for his outstanding performance in helping lead Mizzou to a thriling 41-39 comeback win over rival Kansas last Saturday.